A nurse: doesn’t this person deserve fair pay, after working to keep us all safe from Covid-19 for the last six months – and facing what could be a much worse period in the immediate future?
Nurses have called off their latest round of strikes in order to enter intensive negotiations with the UK’s Tory government over pay.
It seems their persistence has paid off and prime minister Rishi Sunak has u-turned on his refusal to discuss pay with them.
The issue was discussed on the BBC’s Politics Live – and, as always, a few falsehoods crept into the debate.
Here’s what was said. I’ve added a few facts where necessary – either from what I tweeted at the time, or as extra captions.
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Health Secretary Steve Barclay outlined plans to ease “severe pressures” on the NHS and free up hospital beds.
The emergency measures were announced hours after talks intended to end strike action by NHS workers ended in failure.
So what happened?
Well… First we were told that prime minister Rishi Sunak was planning to offer a lump sum to help nurses who were facing “hardship”.
But this created a problem for the government because it meant the Tories had to admit that their starvation wages were causing hardship – and that’s a bad look for any government:
Did he even offer these payments?
Apparently not. All we know is that leaders of Unite said the government had missed “yet another opportunity” by demanding “productivity” improvements …
And those at Unison came out of the talks complaining of no “tangible” offer from the Health Secretary…
So there you have it.
Steve Barclay is bulk-booking beds in private residential homes – with £250 million of public money – because he refuses to pay nurses a living wage.
Indeed, he has demanded that they should work longer than 18 hours a day in order to justify any increased payment.
This is simply unreasonable and reinforces claims that the Tory government is pushing NHS wages down in order to make it more appetising for private buyers after the public has been convinced that privatisation is the only way to improve healthcare in the UK…
And we know that this is a lie. Private health cherry-picks the most lucrative health procedures but then cuts corners in order to make ever-higher profits, and the public purse ends up being forced to pay to put matters right.
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there had been “the promise of an offer” on pay from the rail operating companies.
However, when contacted by the BBC, rail employers and the government said their position had not changed.
If they’re not offering anything new, then there’s no reason to suspend strike action – is there?
The BBC’s report added that the suspension has been announced 11 days before a fresh RMT strike ballot is due to close on November 15.
Mr Lynch previously told the BBC that he expected workers to vote in favour, and warned that there could be strikes for another six months if no agreement is reached.
Will the new talks affect the way the ballot goes? Will they even take place before it finishes, so union members can be sure of the situation when they go to vote? Is the new offer – whatever it is – just an attempt to interfere with the result of the ballot?
Could Mr Lynch have behaved any differently?
This Writer isn’t sure he could have. But I wonder whether the future of rail services is being wagered on a form of negotiation brinkmanship.
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Jeremy Corbyn: all he is saying is, give peace a chance.
This is a story about unreasoning hate.
But you might be forgiven for thinking the person responsible for the hate was former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn – that’s what an awful lot of so-called ‘Centrist’ (in reality right-wing) commentators are trying to make you think.
They’re attacking him because he appeared on a foreign TV news channel, calling for a negotiated peace settlement between Russia and Ukraine, in line with requests by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Here’s what he said:
"Pouring arms in isn't gonna bring back a solution."
The Arab satellite channel’s website quoted him as follows:
“Pouring arms in isn’t going to bring about a solution, It’s only going to prolong and exaggerate this war,” he asserted, expecting that this war will drag on for years.
“Then the world woke up and suddenly realized that Russia and Ukraine are the world’s biggest grain exporters and something has to be done. So they came to an agreement , and I hope it holds, to export grain through Odessa and through the Bosphorus to the rest of the world. That is a good move, but at the same time, putting more and more arms into Ukraine isn’t going to bring about it [peace].
“Ukrainians are dying. Ukrainians are going into exile here; Thousands and thousands. And Russian soldiers are dying, conscripted. Young Russian soldiers are dying. This war is disastrous for the people of Ukraine, for the people of Russia, and for the safety and security of the whole world. And therefore, there has to be more much more effort put into peace.
“Europe has been very welcoming of Ukrainian refugees, and that’s good, that’s right. Sadly, they’re not so welcoming and not so enabling of refugees coming from Yemen or anywhere else.”
Fortunately, there are still people who are able to think critically and realise that they’re being fed a pack of lies by our so-called opinion-formers. Here are a few of the responses:
Hearing reports that people are very mad at Jeremy Corbyn this time for *checks notes* saying that war is bad and we should probably work towards peace.
Jeremy Corbyn speaks for peace and for the most exploited & marginalised people and it's as if the world has ended.
Most of the rest of the political class rabble-rous for war & want and they're seen as the sensible ones.
Wild…
— Prof Gayle Letherby 💙 #PeaceAndJustice (@gletherby) August 2, 2022
Solidarity now and always to @jeremycorbyn. He allowed us to believe that MPs need not be corrupt, self-aggrandising shysters. He’s inspired many in the struggle for peace, justice and fairness
— Dr Deepa Govindarajan Driver (@deepa_driver) August 3, 2022
They’re still frightened of him. The Tories go further to the right, Labour closely follows them and a lot of people are getting angry. Those angry people no longer have anyone to vote for, but Corbyn still represents an alternative and it’s that they want to destroy.
— @artdecolady #StarmerOut #ItWasAScam (@Teresa_Peckham) August 3, 2022
We’ll defend Jeremy Corbyn for as long as you lot keep lying about him. https://t.co/lGxEsjWlyG
— Jules #FreeAssange #AbolishTheMonarchy (@celtjules66) August 3, 2022
And it is worth noting the double-standard between the way Ukraine is discussed and the full-on support for Saudi Arabia’s destruction of Yemen:
UK press corps is very worked up about independent MP Jeremy Corbyn saying continuing to pour weapons into Ukraine is not a long-term strategy.
If they spent just 1 day getting as worked up about the billions of £s of UK weapons pouring into Saudi Arabia, Yemen might be saved.
BREAKING: Joe Biden just sold $3.05 billion worth of American-made Patriot missiles and related equipment to Saudi Arabia so they can continue committing genocide in Yemen.
From our point of view, here at ground level, the message should be clear: don’t blindly accept what you are spoon-fed by a biased and partisan mass media.
Think critically.
Ask why these people are saying the things they are and, if they don’t provide straight answers, dismiss them.
Find your own answers. They’ll be much more trustworthy than a pack of lies about the only UK political figure who actually seems to want people to stop killing each other.
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Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald meets Boris Johnson: she said she received no straight answers from him. Great result! The rest of us have to put up with outright lies.
Boris Johnson has managed a rare achievement in modern politics: having travelled to Northern Ireland for talks on how to restore the devolved government there, he managed to upset everybody he met.
The prime minister’s visit comes after the Democratic Unionist Party blocked the election of a Speaker to a new assembly at Stormont last Friday, meaning it cannot function.
The DUP – and other unionist parties – want changes to the Northern Ireland Protocol of the UK’s agreement to leave the European Union, which they say creates a hard trade border between the Province and Britain.
Johnson claimed to be there to build a consensus with political parties in Northern Ireland – but faced considerable distrust because they all know his foreign secretary, Liz Truss, is expected to make a statement on the government’s plans to act on the protocol on Tuesday – possibly overriding parts of the Brexit deal.
So, while they disagree on the issue that divides them, the Northern Irish parties seem to be united in their distrust of the man with ultimate power to act on it.
Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald accused Mr Johnson of unacceptable and obstructionist tactics, placating the DUP and giving “no straight answers”: “The British government is in a game of brinkmanship with the European institutions, indulging a section of political unionism which believes it can frustrate and hold society to ransom.”
The DUP’s Jeffrey Donaldson said he would judge Johnson on his actions, not words: “We cannot have power-sharing unless there is a consensus. That consensus doesn’t exist.”
Alliance Party deputy leader Stephen Farry was no more positive: “We’ve seen a lot of soft words from the prime minister, an attempt at some sort of consensual way forward, but those words belie the fact that tomorrow Liz Truss is set to make a statement to parliament setting out the basis of the UK taking unilateral action on the protocol.”
And Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) leader Colum Eastwood said: “If the British government tomorrow signal their intent to break international law by legislating to rip up the protocol at Westminster he will not have the support of the vast majority of people in Northern Ireland.”
Johnson was jeered by about 200 people as his cavalcade arrived at Hillsborough, including campaigners for Irish language legislation, anti-Brexit activists and victims’ campaigners objecting to the government’s proposed legislation for dealing with legacy cases from the Troubles.
So in fact, Johnson has achieved a positive result.
He has united the people of Northern Ireland. None of them would trust him further than they could spit a rat.
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The negotiators: it may look as dull as ditchwater but it seems peace may break out as a result of what has been happening in this room.
Even This Writer can’t seriously make the claim in the headline.
But isn’t it curious that negotiators have come up with a 15-point plan for peace, after This Site published its own naive – I thought – concepts of what might work.
The one element that seems to be public knowledge at the time of writing is that Ukraine would give up its bid to join Nato, becoming neutral but able to call on protection from allies like the US, UK and Turkey.
That’s very close to my suggestion that Ukraine remain outside Nato but be able to call on the organisation for protection if its borders were violated – isn’t it?
Perhaps the negotiators could take up my ideas about the breakaway eastern territories and those seized by Russia in 2014 too?
This Writer’s biggest concern is that sanctions imposed by other nations against Russia become a sticking-point in international relations.
Logically, any that have been imposed by the UK will be dropped with indecent speed by Boris Johnson, because he’ll want to restore his funding stream.
But Russia’s claim that Western sanctions against Russia are “aggression and war with economic, political, information means” is a cause for concern.
Sanity may be breaking out between Russia and Ukraine, but is there any hope that it may spread elsewhere as well?
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Is Boris Johnson Vladimir Putin’s useful idiot? If Johnson announces new sanctions against Russia while that country is holding peace talks with Ukraine, it could provide an excuse for Putin to continue the war.
Russian and Ukrainian diplomats are meeting for a third round of peace talks, amid a wave of propaganda from both sides.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy reckons “there will be judgement” on Russia for its invasion of his country, while Vladimir Putin says Russia would quit Ukraine immediately if Ukraine agrees to demilitarise, and to allow the disputed regions in eastern Ukraine their autonomy.
None of the claims are realistic, and This Writer doubts they will be mentioned when the talks restart at 2pm today (4pm in eastern Europe). The negotiators will be looking for a mutually-acceptable conclusion – not trying to score public relations points.
I don’t think Russia will be prepared to give any ground on the disputed eastern regions that are inhabited by people of Russian ethnicity, who identify with Russia and who have (allegedly?) been persecuted for many years.
Nor will Russia relent on its determination that the Crimea should be acknowledged as a Russian territory. This is not unreasonable as it was only given to Ukraine by Nikita Khrushchev in an act of remorse for what he saw as that country’s poor treatment within the USSR.
But the demand for Ukraine to demilitarise is unreasonable. If that country rid itself of all military forces, there would be nothing to stop Russia from rolling straight back in and taking over completely.
And there’s no reason for Ukraine to do as Russia demands; when an invader finds out he can’t win, you don’t offer to make it easier for him.
Realistically, both sides know this. They’ll be seeking a solution that allows them both to walk away with dignity.
Unfortunately, Boris Johnson has decided to hold talks on further sanctions against Russia, at the same time as the peace negotiations are taking place. He started his meeting with the Canadian and Dutch prime ministers at midday and is planning a press conference at 2.50pm – while the Russia-Ukraine talks are taking place.
Will he make an announcement that could upset the peace process? Probably. Johnson is a fool who acts only in what he sees as his own interest.
But what is Johnson’s interest?
Judging by his behaviour so far, his interests lie in prolonging Russia’s war, protecting that country’s interests in the UK, and preventing Ukrainian refugees from gaining asylum here.
An announcement of further sanctions – to be imposed at an undefined point in the future, as far as the UK is concerned – may be just the inflammatory stimulus Russia needs to call off peace talks again.
Bear in mind: it is the timing of the press conference that is contentious. By making an announcement on sanctions while the peace talks are taking place, Johnson is denying Putin and Zelenskyy a chance to come to an agreement.
If they were to make progress, an announcement on sanctions may be unnecessary in any case.
It seems that, by trying to appear proactive, Boris Johnson is simply trying to get in the way.
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Buddies: Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping of China. Putin seems keen to go back to the negotiating table after a chat in which Xi reminded him of China’s preference to leave other countries’ borders inviolate and their internal affairs to their governments.
Having almost conquered Ukraine within two days, Russian president Vladimir Putin has found another way to make Nato and the western powers including the UK and USA look stupid: negotiations.
According to Reuters,
Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to send a delegation to Minsk for negotiations with representatives of Ukraine, the Kremlin said on Friday after the Russian leader held a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The shift in mood could throw a lifeline to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has always said he knows his country can’t withstand an attack by Russia on its own.
He has had to watch Russian troops move into his capital city of Kiev, despite the heroic efforts of his outnumbered and outgunned military – and armed civilians. This could prevent further violence.
And it’s a good move for Putin because it makes the western jingoists look daft again. They’ve been saying he wants to create a new Soviet Union, starting with an occupation of Ukraine, and a trip to the negotiating table – most likely to secure Ukrainian neutrality so it won’t join Nato – will well and truly end that story.
This Writer is willing to bet he’ll take the disputed eastern territories into Russia as part of the negotiations; he’s in a position of power and will use it. He’ll say it’s what the people there want.
If Zelenskyy agrees to talks, and if we’re all very lucky, the violence could be all over by Monday.*
*All right, that’s highly optimistic. But a phrase reminiscent of “It’ll all be over by Christmas” reminds us all of what we’re risking, doesn’t it?
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We’re 16 days into Richard Ratcliffe’s hunger strike outside the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and none of the Tory government could care less.
Watching Nazanine's husband on sky is heartbreaking. He can hardly speak or stand. I'm both angry and upset.
— Yvonne Burdett, 💙🇪🇺 Blocked by Redwood and IDS (@YvonneBurdett3) November 8, 2021
We shouldn’t be surprised.
Since Mr Ratcliffe’s wife Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was first imprisoned under false charges in Iran, the UK government has only worsened her situation.
Boris Johnson famously mistook the accusation against her for what she did, providing the Iranian authorities with justification, not only for having jailed her, but for jailing her for an indefinite period to come.
Richard Ratcliffe is now on day 15 of his hunger strike.
Remember, Boris Johnson's one contribution to foreign policy as foreign sec was to get Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe's sentence increased because he hadn't been bothered to read his brief…#FreeNazanin
And then Johnson turned Nazanin’s freedom into a bargaining chip in an argument between the UK and Iran over around £450 million owed to the Middle East country since the Shah was overthrown in the late 1970s.
That gave the Iranians reason enough to find another charge on which to keep her imprisoned for another year.
But it won’t do any good because Johnson and the Tories couldn’t care less what happens to anybody who isn’t one of them.
Mr Ratcliffe, after having entrusted his wife’s well-being into the hands of the worst clown ever to hold high office, has realised that nothing will change unless there is a genuine threat to health and life.
So he started his hunger strike, more than two weeks ago – and is now in danger of suffering permanent harm to his health.
And nobody in the government has paid a blind bit of attention.
Liz Truss, the current Foreign Secretary, has probably walked past Mr Ratcliffe – on her way to vote in support of corrupt Owen Paterson last Wednesday, for example – without a first glance, let alone a second.
They walked past Richard Ratcliffe to go to vote on keeping a corrupt MP and themselves in a job, probably never even looked at him.
Mr Ratcliffe is receiving his fair share of celebrity visitors who are raising whatever publicity they can give him – but it’s not doing any good, for the reason I state below:
I'm sorry, Victoria, but nobody in power could care less. I'm just wondering how far this has to go before the public at large realise what is happening here and how despicable Truss, Johnson and the rest of them really are.
Then again, how many people in the UK even know that the husband of a woman who is wrongly imprisoned because of the prime minister is even on hunger strike at all?
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Man in black: why isn’t Johnson wearing a Union Flag facemask, considering von der Leyen has one for the EU? Men in black are traditionally… villains, aren’t they?
Correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t Sunday, December 13 the deadline for a post-Brexit EU-UK trade deal, considering the ratification process for all Parliaments?
Suddenly that’s not the story after all. Instead:
The two sides had said Sunday was the deadline for a decision on whether to continue with talks.
They’re making this stuff up as they go – on both sides.
This is what happens when both sides in a confrontation talk tough but know they really need to come to terms.
The UK is facing an economic disaster (that prime minister Boris Johnson may – or may not – be secretly working towards, depending on which rumours you believe).
And the EU has to consider the possibility of political destabilisation that could arise from failure to reach a deal.
And both could be hoping to magic up a public relations miracle in time for Christmas.
Forgive me, but This Writer finds the timing – and the rhetoric – all to be a little… cynical.
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